Moving into Summer

JUNE 9, 2017JAYNE VENABLES

Well there is so much going on isn’t there! From the very very sad events in Manchester to the rather irritating and sometimes lacklustre election campaign and what a result! That high five though from Corbyn! oh dear oh dear! Life really is a rollercoaster and I am needing a holiday! I’ll have to wait until later in the year though once things fall quieter at Lowerquoys and everyone is back to their Autumnal routines.

It would seem according to the Office for National Statistics figures recently reported that Scotland attracted more than 2.7 million overseas visitors in 2016, an increase of 155,000 on the previous year, recognising Scotland’s appeal as a world-class tourist destination. Really proud to be a part of that and we have had some lovely feedback on Trip Advisor this week from our holiday guests which makes it all worthwhile. Thank You!

The weather in Orkney at the moment is a little changeable with a little more rain at times than is normal which is not good news for the farming community who have just sewn their new grass. I can’t quite believe I have got the woodburner going.

The weekend looks brighter though and more normal temperatures should resume soon! With the folk festival now at an end, there is still lots to look forward to in Orkney. There is a musical feast on July the 1st at the Standing Stones Hotel with a buffet, live music, a bouncy castle, face painting and raffle at this all ages event. Nick Card, the Director at the Ness of Brodgar is giving a talk on the 15th June at 7pm at the Orkney Theatre, Kirkwall regarding Structure 10: A Neolithic Cathedral at the Ness. With monthly song nights at the REEL in Kirkwall, and Stromness Shopping Week not far away, there is always plenty to do in Orkney.

If you are a facebook user, there are lots of facebook pages you can follow to find out more about things to do – ‘ORKNEY Communities, what’s on and news’ is just one of these. Or if its a rainy day, why not visit Stromness Museum or have a night out at the pictures at the Phoenix Cinema at Kirkwall’s Pickaquoy Centre.

Orkney is queen of the festivals, and tickets are on sale for the St Magnus International Festival, founded in 1977 and one of the UK’s best respected Arts Festivals, if you happen to be in Orkney during the period, then I would definitely recommend purchasing some tickets. This year marks the 900th anniversary of St Magnus’s death and Royal Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will visit the Orkney Islands on the 16-17 June at the start of the St Magnus Festival to take part in the celebration of the longstanding historical ties between Norway and Orkney.